Steve STRONGMAN winsGuitarist Of The Year 2nd year in a row at the Maple Blues Awards!

New acoustic CD to be released in April 2012!

Steve Strongman’s highly anticipated Acoustic CD “A Natural Fact” due for release, May 5 at the Molson Canadian Studio at Hamilton Place.Produced by Rob Szabo, the CD features solo pieces, as well as acoustic band tracks featuring Maple Blues Award winner Alec Fraser on bass, Dave King on drums, and Jesse O’Brien on piano.

Steve Strongman's astounding guitar playing and expressive songwriting combined with his entertaining showmanship, have firmly established him as one of Canada’s best new Blues artists. The 2009 recipient of the prestigious Mel Brown Blues award, 2008 Maple Blues awards nominee for “Guitarist of the year”, 2007 Maple Blues Awards “Best New Artist” nominee, received standing ovations opening for the legendary Buddy Guy on his Canadian tour dates.

ellent harp playing added in for good measure. “Blues in Colour” was recorded in a century old barn, out

Steve Strongman Blues In Colour SelfEven after a well-received debut CD, Honey, the hard work continues. With a particularly effective showcase at the Blues Summit behind him, SteveStrongman keeps the ball rolling with a sparkling new CD. With release parties in home base Hamilton and here next month, the momentum should keep growing. He certainly has the songs and the performances here to make that happen. It’s basically a trio session, with multiple-award winning Alec Fraser on bass and producer Dave King on drums. Strongman overdubs some fine harp, especially on the rocking opener, “Mean To Me’. The only cover is up next, a solid take on Freddie King’s “Woman Across The River”, with the trio handling the changes superbly. “That’s What She Does” would have hit single written all over it if hit radio played these things. With a catchy melody delivered in his distinctive, plaintive voice, it’ll be in your head for days. The jaunty “Can’t Back Down” switches gears to acoustic with Strongman on slide and King on brushes. Another winner. “Take My Arms” is a long, slow blues and it doesn’t disappoint, with perfect guitar accompaniments to the vocal and a stunning solo. Electric slide dominates “Can’t Stop But I’m Tryin’”, a song about vices (with Paul Intson on bass). “Heart” is a lovely acoustic ballad. “Lie To You” is another rocker with electric slide with a catchy chorus. “Plain Hard Truth”, with its unison vocal and guitar lines, is another slow blues that except for the chorus is so downhome it would not sound out of place on an R.L. Burnside album. A very good lyric too. The disc concludes with Strongman on his National saying, passionately, “Just Sorry”.

Available shows: Steve Strongman (solo acoustic), The Steve Strongman Band, Guitar Explosion with Paul Deslauriers and as a special guest with house band.